A Painful Case James Joyce

A Painful Case

James Joyce

Ireland

(1882-1941)

Apply the four level of meaning to the story "A Painful Case".

Literal Comprehension: Mr. James Duffy lived alone far away from the city of Dublin in an old dark house. He was living a poor aloof and separated life. Though the window of his house he could see a river. Personally he seemed to be sad and indifferent. He worked in a private bank. He was very intellectual because he has studied a lot of books. He had no friends and was living far away from romance, love or woman. For some freshness he went to concerts to listen to music and watched dance. Once in a program he met Mrs. Sinico. She was a wife of ship captain who had a daughter. They met again in another concert. They frequently visited each other and started to share all their live experiences. One evening in an excitement she put his hand to her cheek. This showed she wanted sexual relation that Duffy disliked. Mr. Duffy didn't like such manner and stopped meeting her. He wrote her to meet one day. They met and he advised her not to meet again. Mr. Duffy was spending his usual life. After four year when he was having dinner he got some notice in the news. Before reading content the headline was saying "Death of a lady at Sydney Prarade -A Painful Case". It made Duffy very sad. Mrs. Sinico was knocked down by train. She loved him most but he neglected her. As a result, he lost her life. He started to feel himself alone and helpless. All his morality broke into pieces. He had missed the joy of life.

Interpretation: This story may be trying to tell us the importance of love in human life. The basic things of life is love. If anyone is neglected by all, he starts to drink and dies. Mr. Sinico couldn't get love that she wanted very much so she lost her life. She was lonely because her daughter was busy in teaching music and her husband in the ship. She found Duffy for her friend but she couldn't get his support. This shows that one should not be away from practical life. Only bookish knowledge without practicality doesn't do anything good. This is seen in Duffy who being alone did not understand the friendship of Mrs. Sinico. The story may also be trying to tell us that life is enjoyable with love Lonely life is a source of sadness. It also says that sexual desire is in both male and female equally.

Critical Thinking: We sympathize to Mrs. Sinico who couldn't get what she wanted. She wanted sexual relation with Mr. Duffy because she was hungry of that is her telling such desire can be mistake? Can’t woman express her inner desire with third person? Should one love for sexual pleasure or other thing? Since Mr. Duffy is lonely: Is lonely life worth living? Should we love someone's life not to make feel her lonely? These are some questions we can raise in this story.

Assimilation: I liked the story very much after reading it. I understood that love is very important thing for living happy life. Love is life and life is love. In my village a bad boy used to love a girl. He went to town but didn't care her for two years. The girl stated to love another rich boy of village. Before that boy coming back from the town she got married with him. This shows she needed his support and love but didn't get in time. So, she changed her love with one who fulfilled her desires. This story made me realize how difficult it becomes if someone we love most neglects us. So, I can really understand the problem (feelings) of Mrs. Sinico who had to face tragic end because of unfulfilled love.

c. In one paragraph retell the story "A Painful Case" by James Joyce.

Mr. James Duffy lived alone far away from the city of Dublin in an old, dark house. He was living a poor, aloof and separated life. Through the window of his house he could see a river. Personally, he seemed to be sad and indifferent. He worked in a private bank. He was very intellectual because he had studied a lot of books. He had no friends and was living far away from romance, Love or woman. For some freshness he went to converts to listen to music and watched dance. Once in a program he met Mrs. Sinico. She was a wife of ship captain, also had a daughter also. They met again in another concert. They frequently visited each other and started to share all their life experiences. One evening in an excitement she put his hand to her cheek. This showed she wanted sexual relation that Duffy disliked. Mr. Duffy didn't like such manner and stopped meeting her. He wrote him to meet one day. They met and he advised her not to meet again. Mr. Duffy was spending his usual life. When he was having dinner one evening he got some notice in the news. Before reading content the headline was saying "Death of a Lady at Sydney Prarade -A painful case". It made Duffy very sad. Mrs. Sinico was knocked down by a train. She loved him most but he neglected her. As a result, she lost her life. He started to feel himself alone and helpless. All his morality broke into pieces. He had missed the joy  of life.

d. Describe what your own attitude towards love is.

Love is very pious (Pure) thing. It is the Union Between two souls. Sexual relation is not the true meaning of pure love. I have fully positive attitude towards can be between two opposite sexes, between place and person and between people to anything.

Normally, love is defined as a sexual or physical passion that is totally wrong. No doubt, two person once met or saw can be true lovers for whole life. An artist loves nature and paints a beautiful painting or compose a melodious music. The spiritual lovers never pay any attention to sex. There is mutual sharing compassion, respect, caring, sacrifice and many more. Love happens to be created unknowingly grows unknowingly. We can't express love but we can only feel it. Love makes life ever happy and romantic. This unselfish love can be a medicine to any disease of live. All the world people exit and live with love. We can do spiritual love to many where sacrifice and dedication become main aspects. Love, to say where sacrifice and dedication become main aspects. Love politics, and human relation are not bad things in themselves but bad players have made made them polluted and damaged. We should be near with love and do true love so that happy and satisfied life can be lived.